ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Rs. 200 crore to be spent for refurbishing and rebuilding SEEPZ: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
Centre working on a policy to enable companies desirous of exiting SEEPZ to do it in a time-bound manner and enable new companies to take their place
Mumbai, 19 August 2021
The Centre is working on a policy which will enable companies desirous of exiting SEEPZ Special Economic Zone to do it in a time-bound manner and enable new companies to take their place. This was stated by Shri Piyush Goyal in Mumbai today. The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry announced this during a meeting with Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards and Authorities and other stakeholders in Mumbai, to discuss measures to enhance and increase exports.
The Minister said he has asked the Development Commissioner of SEEPZ to set up a Common Services Centre in consultation with industry, to provide services at very competitive prices. “I have also asked to build new places in SEEPZ, both for newer units to come in and also to move existing units into new places, for which plans can be made in a phased manner. About Rs. 50 crore will be spent for setting up Common Services Centre facilities and roughly Rs. 200 crore for refurbishing and rebuilding in the SEEPZ”.
The Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone  was set up on 1st May, 1973 as uni-product EPZ exclusively for manufacture and export of electronic items. Later on, the Govt. of India decided to permit manufacture and export of Gem & Jewellery items from SEEPZ during 1987-88. With a view to overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view of attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones  Policy was announced in April 2000. SEEPZ was one of the three Export Processing Zones converted as Special Economic Zone w.e.f. 1st November, 2000.
The Export Promotion Councils , Commodity Boards and Authorities present in the meeting included IOPEPC , EEPC India, PLEXCONCIL , Services Export Promotion Council, SRTEPC , Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs, Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council, Texprocil, GJEPC , AEPC , CII, FIEO , Project Export Promotion Council of India and others. The EPCs and other participants joined physically in Mumbai as well as online from other places.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Indian Coast Guard’s bike rally to spread awareness on coastal security
Kolkata, 18 January, 2019
A bike rally consisting of 22 personnel from Indian Coast Guard , Marine Police and Fisheries for spreading awareness on coastal security was ceremonially flagged off by the Governor of West Bengal Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan today. The rally will cover a distance of 1200 km halting at five coastal towns in the states of West Bengal and Odisha and will culminate at Kolkata on January 23, 2019. Commander of Coast Guard  Inspector General Rajan Bargotra was also present on the occasion.
Appreciating the efforts of the Coast Guard to establish a connect with the fishermen to spread awareness on coastal security and conducting free medical camps in both the states enroute during the rally. Shri Tripathi also complemented the Coast Guard for the yeoman service rendered to the nation since inception.
During the course of the event, the Coast Guard will organize community interaction programmes with the local fishing community for spreading awareness on coastal security at Junput and Haldia in West Bengal and Dhamra, Paradip and Chandipur in Odisha.
Ministry of Power
REC Limited holds 54th AGM, announces commitment to increase loan portfolio of green projects by more than 10 times by year 2030
REC Limited held its 54th Annual General Meeting  today through Video Conferencing.
Chairman & Managing Director Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan chaired the meeting, which was attended by all Directors on the Board of the Company. Many shareholders were present at the meeting through Video Conferencing.
Addressing the meeting, the CMD said: “REC is committed to increase its present loan portfolio of Green Projects to the extent of more than ten times by the year 2030 amounting to ₹ 3 lakh crore. REC has been known for its rural electrification efforts; now it would be known for its Renewable Energy  focused initiatives including solar, wind, hybrid and e-mobility projects, as well as new areas like Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia Projects, round the clock projects involving bundling of RE with thermal power and ethanol manufacturing.”
The CMD said that while reposing faith in REC, Ministry of Power has also allowed the Company to lend to non-power infrastructure & logistics sectors to contribute to the accelerated development of the nation. “I ecstatically report that during the first year itself, we have sanctioned more than ₹85,700 crore towards various projects spanning Metro, Ports, Airports, Oil Refineries, Highways, Steel Infra to Healthcare, Educational Institutions and also in sectors of IT Infra/ Fiber Optics, etc. that constitute about 32% of overall sanctions of the Company, in the last financial year.”
Regarding bond issue and dividend, Shri Dewangan said: “In August 2022, the Company issued bonus shares to shareholders in a 1:3 ratio, issuing 65,83,06,000 new fully paid-up equity shares of ₹10/- each. This increased the issued and paid-up share capital to ₹2,633.22 Crore, comprising 2,63,32,24,000 equity shares of ₹10/- each. In terms of dividends, REC is among the highest dividend-paying companies in its category. During FY23, the Board proposed a final dividend of ₹4.35 per share for the approval of shareholders in this AGM and the same has been approved by the shareholders. This is in addition to the 1st Interim Dividend of ₹5 per share and 2nd Interim Dividend of ₹3.25 per share which has already been paid. The total dividend for the FY23, including the proposed final dividend, is ₹12.60 per share. The total dividend pay-out for FY23, including the proposed final dividend, is ₹3,318 Crore.”
Pursuant to Regulation 44 of SEBI  Regulations 2015 and Section 108 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 20 of the Companies  Rules 2014, REC had offered remote e-voting facility to its members to exercise their right to vote by electronic means from Sunday, September 3, 2023  to Tuesday, September 5, 2023 .
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Toll Collection after Introduction of Fastags
The user fee collection at fee plazas of National Highways Authority of India  since introduction of FASTag in Financial Year 2016-17, is as under:
|
|
Financial Year
|
|
Total Collection 
|
|
2016-17
|
|
17942.14
|
|
2017-18
|
|
21948.13
|
|
2018-19
|
|
24396.20
|
|
2019-20
|
|
26850.71
|
|
2020-21
|
|
27744.15
To implement Electronic Toll Collection through FASTag, a Program Management Fee  of 1.50%, 1.25%, 0.25% and 1% was approved for Issuer Bank, Acquirer Bank, National Payments Corporation of India  and Indian Highways Management Company Limited , respectively, for the period upto 31st March, 2021.
The user fee at the public funded fee plaza is collected by the user fee collection agency selected on the basis of competitive bidding and the amount remitted by the agency under the contract is deposited to the Consolidated Fund of India.
This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur calls on Ms. Vandana Gupte and Dr. Sandhya Purecha during three day visit to Mumbai
9-year tenure of the Government, dedicated to service, good governance and the welfare of the poor, has been very successful : Anurag Singh Thakur
Mumbai, June 20, 2023
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur is currently on a three-day visit to Mumbai. On the third day of his visit to Mumbai, today, Shri Thakur interacted with well-known Marathi and Hindi film and theatre actress Ms. Vandana Gupte and Sangeet Natak Akademi Chair Dr. Sandhya Purecha at their residences. During the meeting, the Minister spoke about the unprecedented work done by the Government in the last 9 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi. The 9-year tenure of the Government, dedicated to service, good governance and the welfare of the poor, has been very successful said the Minister.
On visiting veteran actress Ms. Vandana Gupte at her residence, Minister gifted her a booklet elucidating the works done by the Central Government. Speaking about the visit, Ms. Vandana Gupte said 'It was a wonderful surpise and I am happy and honoured by the visit of the Union Minister. We discussed various issued faced by the those working in the field of theatre and I put forth the request that just like the film industry, theatre also be declared as an industry so persons working can demand for rights. During his visit we also discussed the achievements of the Government in the last nine years.'

Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur also visited W20 President and Chair Sangeet Natak Akademi, Award-winning Dance guru Dr. Sandhya Purecha’s residence and gifted her a booklet describing the works done by the Central Government. Speaking about the visit, Dr. Sandhya Purecha said that she discussed the advocacy on the W20 communique with the Minister. Additionally since she is the Chair of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the two also discussed the involvement of youth in subjects associated with Indian Art and Culture. The Dance Guru also had an opportunity to give the Minister her translation of the book Natyashastra which is also known as the fifth Veda.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 185.20 Cr
Over 2.04 Cr vaccine doses administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 11,639
1,033 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.76%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 0.22%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 185.20 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,23,20,478 sessions.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 2.04 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10403951
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
10003375
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4506652
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
18413677
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17517313
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
6959375
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
20440247
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
57491065
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
39046615
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
554905338
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
468620860
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
202798184
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
185937186
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
126775913
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
115815818
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
12436900
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
2,39,02,927
|
|
Total
|
|
1,85,20,72,469
Following a continuous downward trend, India’s Active Caseload declines to today 11,639 Active cases now constitute 0.03% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.76%. 1,222 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,24,98,789.
1,033 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 4,82,039 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 79.25 Cr  cumulative tests.
There has been a sustained fall in the weekly and daily Positivity Rates too. Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 0.22% and the Daily Positivity rate is also reported to be 0.21%.
NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog and M/o DoNER to release the first edition of North Eastern Region District SDG Index & Dashboard, 2021-22 on 26th August 2021
NITI Aayog and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region  will be launching the first edition of the North Eastern Region  District SDG Index Report and Dashboard 2021–22 on 26 August 2021. This inaugural edition is the first of its kind region-wide district SDG index in the country and a milestone in the efforts towards localising the Sustainable Development Goals  in the 120 Districts of the 8 States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of DoNER, Tourism and Culture, and Shri B. L. Verma, Union Minister of State for DoNER and Cooperation, will launch the index and dashboard in the presence of Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog; Dr. Inder Jit Singh, Secretary, Ministry of DoNER and Ms Nadia Rasheed, Resident Representative , UNDP India. The NER District SDG Index and Dashboard is a collaborative effort by NITI Aayog and Ministry of DoNER, with technical support from UNDP. It measures the performance of the districts of the eight States of the North Eastern Region on the SDGs and their corresponding targets and ranks the districts based on the same. The index is based on NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index –the principal and official tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs at the national and State/ Union Territory levels and shares the common ethos of benchmarking performance and ranking on the SDGs to foster competition among the districts.
NER District SDG Index and Dashboard 2021–22: A Brief Introduction
The NER District SDG Index and Dashboard: Baseline Report 2021-22 has been constructed by NITI Aayog, the nodal agency for SDGs in India, utilising 84 indicators which cover 15 of the Global Goals across 50 targets. The construction of the index and the ensuing methodology embody the central objectives of measuring the performance of districts on the SDGs and ranking them; supporting States in identifying areas which require more attention; and promoting healthy competition among them. All aspects related to the selection of indicators and computation methodology of the NER District SDG Index and Dashboard followed extensive consultation with all the eight States of the region. States played a crucial role in shaping the index by enriching the feedback process with localised insights and field experience.
The index will facilitate in identifying crucial gaps and inform interventions to fast track progress towards achieving the SDGs in the region and act as a ready reckoner for gauging progress of districts on the expansive set of the Global Goals on health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment, among others.
The North Eastern Region District SDG Index is another milestone in NITI Aayog’s efforts in localising the SDGs from ‘global to national to local’.
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Denmark
The leaders review the progress of the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and express satisfaction at high-level exchanges and growing cooperation
PM Frederiksen appreciates India’s G20 initiatives and conveys Denmark’s full support
The leaders agree to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Denmark relations next year in 2024
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark.
PM congratulated PM Frederiksen on her appointment as the Prime Minister of Denmark for a second term.
The two leaders reviewed the progress of the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and the growing cooperation.
PM briefed PM Frederiksen on India's ongoing Presidency of the G20 and its key priorities. PM Frederiksen appreciated India’s initiatives and conveyed Denmark’s full support to them.
The two leaders agreed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India-Denmark relations next year in 2024 in a befitting manner and to explore areas to diversify their relations further.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Key amendment to Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006,to ramp up availability/production of bulk drugs within short span of time.
Within a period of about two weeks, more than 100 such proposals received
To address unprecedented situation arising from global outbreak of Novel Corona Virus , and to ramp up availability or production of various drugs, Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change on 27th March 2020, has made an amendment to EIA Notification 2006. All projects or activities in respect of bulk drugs and intermediates, manufactured for addressing various ailments, have been re-categorized from the existing Category ‘A’ to ‘B2’ category.
Projects falling under Category B2 are exempted from requirement of collection of Base line data, EIA Studies and public consultation. The re-categorization of such proposals has been done to facilitate decentralization of appraisal to State Level so as to fast track the process. This step of the Govt is with a view to help in increasing the availability of the important medicines/ drugs in the country within short span of time. This amendment is applicable to all proposals received up to 30th September 2020. The states have also been issued advisories to expeditiously process such proposals.
Further, to ensure expeditious disposal of the proposals within given time-line, Ministry has also advised states to use information technology e.g. video conference, considering the fact that in view of the prevailing situation on ground, appraisal of proposals may not be possible through physical meetings.
Within a period of about two weeks, more than 100 proposals have been received under this category, which are at different levels of decision making by the concerned regulatory authorities in the states.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur attends Madhavpur Ghed Festival
Current and future generations must connect with cultural roots
Unprecedented development in North East under PM Narendra Modi: Shri Thakur
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur today attended the third day of the four-day 'Madhavpur Ghed Fair' in Gujarat. The event was also attended by Shri N Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur and Ministers of Government of Gujarat.
Addressing the audience on the occasion the Minister said Madhavpur Ghed Festival is highest symbol of connecting people of India and the festival brings together the far east of the country and the west. Speaking on the developmental work being carried out in the States of north-east Shri Thakur said Look East Policy has become Act East Policy only under the current Government and north eastern states of India have since seen unprecedented development in infrastructure and facilities.
Shri Thakur said that the Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has actively worked towards reviving India's lost cultural heritage and it is under the Prime Minister that Kedarnathji Temple has seen a grand upliftment on the one hand while grandeur of Somnath temple has achieved new highs on the other. The Minister extolled the work done by the Union Government on Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, construction of Ram Temple and beautification of Char Dham.
The Minister said that while India gained political independence in 1947, cultural independence was not achieved and it is only in 2014 that cultural nationalism became a crucial part of political discourse. The Minister exhorted the current and future generations to connect with their cultural roots and said it was our responsibility that stories from our cultural legacy are propagated among the masses.
The Minister recalled his recent visit to Abu Dhabi and said it was because of the harmonious relations established under the Prime Minister that a Gulf country will now be home to a grand Swami Naranyan Temple.
Shri Anurag Thakur promised that Ministry of I&B along with its media units will promote the festival and add to its magnificence.
The Madhavpur Ghed Festival is being held from 10th to 13th April 2022. The festival was inaugurated by the President of India and is being organised by Government of Gujarat in partnership with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Ministry of Mines
Mineral Production goes up by 9.7% in November, 2022
Cumulative Growth for April-November, 22 comes to 4.7%
The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of November, 2022  at 105.8, is 9.7% higher as compared to the level in the month of November, 2021. As per the provisional statistics of Indian Bureau of Mines , the cumulative growth for the period April-November, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year is 4.7 per cent.
Production level of important minerals in November, 2022 were: Coal 761 lakh tonnes, Lignite 32 lakh tonnes, Natural gas  2779 million cu. m., Petroleum  24 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2228 thousand tonnes, Chromite 243 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 9.5 thousand tonnes , Gold 132 kg, Iron ore 231 lakh tonnes, Lead conc.30 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 274 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 133 thousand tonnes, Limestone 330 lakh tonnes, Phosphorite 205 thousand tonnes, Magnesite 9 thousand tonnes, and Diamond 28 carat.
Important minerals showing positive growth during November, 2022 over November, 2021 include: Diamond , Phosphorite , Bauxite  Iron Ore , Coal, Limestone  and Manganese Ore . Other important minerals showing negative growth include: Petroleum , Natural Gas  . Lignite,Lead conc. , Copper concentrate, Gold  and Chromite.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Indian Maritime sector leapfrogs to compete with the best in the world
Average Container dwell time for India, as per World Bank's Logistics Performance Index  Report — 2023, has achieved a level of 3 days only as compared to 4 days for countries like UAE and South Africa, 7 days for USA and 10 days for Germany.
The investment made by the country in the Ports and Shipping sector, since 2014, on improvement of infrastructure, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has started yielding results. Very low dwell time at Indian Sea Ports is an outcome of reforms under taken by the country in the shipping sector to enhance port productivity and improve visibility of the supply chain through digitalization.
Focus on improving connectivity to the hinterland through coordinated planning and execution under the PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan and thrust on public private partnerships in the maritime sector has propelled India to move up to 22nd Rank in the Global Ranking in International Shipments category vis-à-vis the Overall 38th Rank as per country's Logistics Performance Index score.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, thrust has been on improving Port efficiency and productivity through policy reforms, induction of new technologies and greater Public Private Partnerships. Indian Ports have registered quantum improvement in "Turn Around Time".
Global comparison of Indian Ports on "Turn Around Time" parameter, as published in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index  Report-2023, acknowledges Indian Ports "Turn Around Time" as 0.9 days which is better than USA , Australia , Belgium , Canada , Germany , UAE , Singapore , Russian Federation , Malaysia , Ireland , Indonesia , New Zealand  and South Africa .
Prime Minister's Office
PM’s statement prior to his departure to Russia
Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s departure statement prior to his visit to Russia.
“Greetings to the friendly people of Russia. I look forward to my visit to Sochi tomorrow and my meeting with President Putin. It is always a pleasure to meet him.
Am confident the talks with President Putin will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.”